I hate hearing the word in the mouth of African Americans. But I also understand that the use is an effort to reappropriate the word, to make it work for rather than against them. As I said somewhere else, I don't think it works. Gays do the same with "queer," and although in some contexts (like in literary theory, where "queering" involves a specific deconstruction of heteronormative discourse) it works, for the most part I don't think it works at all. Reappropriation just doesn't work, I think, for any of marginalized group. Anyway, I agree with the discomfort at hearing the word used.

I guess I may be weird, but black people calling themselves, and each other that pretty much goes in one ear & out the other, same as gays calling each other, "Mary" or "Miss 'Thing'" since truth be known, neither are my domain.

I also pretty much make a point not to engage inFAUX OUTRAGE particularly with people who wereevery bit as quick to throw stones when THAT was"The 'IN-THING' To Do" among ones peers.

That said;I'm the first to fly to the defense of someonebeing abused by someone outside their circle.

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